I'm gonna give this a shot. I've never posted my written prayers for Sunday worship before. Let me know if this is something I should continue.

Almighty Lord – in whom we have our hope and in whom we may place our trust – your people come close to praise, to listen and be. As our voices raise up in joyous song to you, may you be glorified in and through and by them. And not only now, but always.

Refrain

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

From the midst of our busy, demanding and trying lives we seek you and share with you our common supplications.

We see, O God, violence and evil in places like Egypt, Syria, Sudan, the deepest and darkest places of human hearts, and pray that hearts that are so easily coaxed into the darkest places of powerful displays, heinous acts, hatred, prejudice and bigotry may be be warmed to your peace. Forgive and transform those who perpetrate and enfold and heal those who are perpetrated against.

Refrain

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Rescue us, O Lord! Rescue us from the madness we see, from the madness we are apart of, and the madness that we – sometimes gladly- concoct in our loves. Just as Jesus said how blessed are those who make peace, help us to be surrounded by those who work for it – and bend our being to be those who constantly seek to create it.

Refrain

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

O God, our redeemer, even as we come to praise and worship, we come with the names of those who need some type of healing touch from you. In this time, O God, we petition you on behalf of those suffering the pain of neglect, the pit of depression, the turmoil of broken and menacing relationships, the anguish of physical pain, and the anticipation of death. Especially, we pray for…(names of those on our prayer list)

Whether it be the natural order of biology or the effects of the evil malicious and neglectful acts of others, we ask your healing touch be applied in each situation and to each situation. For those who suffer, may your hope and comfort abound.

Refrain

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

From our birth, you are with us, our God. In the midst of our worst, you are there – never leaving us. In the happiest and grandest times of our lives, it is so simple to see your hand. But even in the most hum-drum times of our lives, you choose to bless us. For whatever just so happens to be our circumstance, keep us mindful of blessings great and small.

Refrain

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Ever-faithful God, you have knit together as one body in Christ those who have been your people in all times and places. Keep us in communion with all your saints, following their example of faith and life, until that day when all your saints will dwell together in the joy of your eternal kingdom. Through Christ, our Lord, we now pray that prayer he taught us…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses – as we forgive those who trespassed against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory – forever. AMEN.

This Sunday, it will have been 10 years since I flipped on The Today Show to see WTC 1 in flames and watch helplessly as United 175 slammed into WTC 2. I am sure that I am not the only pastor struggling with how best to approach this tragic anniversary. Personally, there is already so